Partnership for Progress: EMR and Solar Energy UK Join Forces
The firm focused on sustainable materials, EMR, has partnered with Solar Energy UK, a prominent trade association, to enhance circularity within the solar energy sector.
Current Challenges in Solar Panel Disposal
In the United Kingdom, options available for managing end-of-life solar assets remain relatively scarce. By collaborating with Solar Energy UK’s extensive network of 425 member businesses all along the solar supply chain, EMR aims to fast-track initiatives that foster circular practices.
A Leader in Recycling
EMR possesses the technology and infrastructure necessary to recycle a diverse array of solar panel components. As one of the UK’s most prominent recyclers of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), they successfully diverts thousands of tonnes from landfills every year.
Recently, they inaugurated a new Wind Turbine Processing Centre located on Glasgow’s South Street. In addition to this development, EMR has an established track record in recycling ferrous and non-ferrous metals and various commonly utilized plastics through its subsidiary MBA Polymers UK.
The Commitment to Maximizing Material Value
This extensive experience bolsters EMR’s assertion that it can recover optimal value from high-quality materials during recycling processes—benefiting not only their operations but also their clients.
Voices for Change in Renewable Energy
“At EMR,” stated Ben Lester, Market Development Lead at the company, “we’ve consistently prioritized assisting forward-thinking organizations in renewable energy by offering credible solutions for reusing or recycling assets that have reached their life cycle.”
Lester emphasized how collaborating with like-minded enterprises through membership in Solar Energy UK presents an exciting opportunity. It allows sharing insights into industry progress while advocating for improved support and regulation across the sector as a whole.
A Look Toward 2050
The current number of decommissioned solar panels is minimal; however, projections indicate that by 2050 there may be over one million panels requiring proper disposal just within the UK alone. This situation provides both EMR and its partners an advantageous position to develop an efficient circular economy tailored toward these materials.”
“By fostering relationships with committed stakeholders within Solar Energy UK today,” he added, ”EMR is taking crucial steps towards achieving a more eco-friendly future grounded in renewable energy sources.”
An Industry Shift Towards Sustainability
Chris Hewett—the Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK—expressed enthusiasm about welcoming EMR into their community: “It’s encouraging to see such dynamic actions aimed at improving sustainability across our sector.” He noted that demand for services related to solar recycling will significantly grow over upcoming years as first-gen systems reach retirement age. Thus partnering now positions EMR favorably against potential rivals.”
Additions include other service providers like law firms and cable manufacturers who have also joined forces through membership—providing significant benefits such as access to comprehensive industry insights plus collaborative opportunities influencing policy-makers’ decisions.”
